“Picky eating” is a common phase in childhood, often associated with the cognitive phase of development where children are asserting autonomy separate from their caregivers. “Picky eaters” maintain appropriate growth patterns despite their preferences.
In contrast, Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) is characterized by impaired oral intake not appropriate for the child’s age and associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction. It impacts the child’s overall health and well-being. More information can be found here: https://www.feedingmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2019-01-JPGN-PFD-Consensus-Definition-and-Framework.pdf.
If you have concerns about your child’s eating, we do not recommend you “wait and see.” Our feeding therapists can complete a comprehensive evaluation to determine if a PFD diagnosis characterizes your child and what we can do as a team to help.
Feeding is a complex act that requires the use of several body systems. What may look and feel like a “behavior issue” typically has roots in an experience that made eating challenging, uncomfortable, or stressful for the child. This is not anyone’s fault! Our therapists are passionate about doing the detective work necessary to get to the heart of what’s making feeding hard, and addressing that directly with you and your child. Therefore, we take a holistic, team approach that often requires referrals to create a comprehensive feeding team.
The duration of feeding therapy varies based on the individual needs and goals of your child. Some children may benefit from short-term therapy to address specific challenges, while others may require ongoing support and skill development.
Yes, we are experienced in working with children who have food allergies, dietary restrictions, and specific medical conditions that impact their diet. We create customized feeding plans to accommodate these needs safely.
Coverage for feeding therapy varies by insurance plans and funding sources. Our team can assist you in navigating insurance claims and identifying potential funding options to make feeding therapy more accessible.
Yes, we offer virtual and telehealth options for feeding therapy when appropriate. Our therapists can provide guidance and support remotely to ensure continuity of care and generalization to the home environment.
Feeding therapy sessions are conducted by our experienced therapists in a responsive, supportive environment. At MST, we believe strongly in the value of the therapy triad: your child, your therapist, and you! Your therapist will advise you on what foods to bring to therapy to explore, and your child will engage in activities designed to improve their feeding skills. You will also collaborate with your feeding therapist to develop a structure, routine, and schedule for your individual family during mealtimes.
Our trained CLC can help teach feeding cues, ideal amount of time to feed your baby, signs of getting enough milk, counseling, and more!
Of course! This is a great question and can be addressed in your comprehensive evaluation with our CLC/SLP.
YES! Breastfeeding is beautiful, but it can be very stressful. It is not automatic as society wants one to believe. There are nuances to breastfeeding where our skilled CLC/SLP can counsel you through this.
Absolutely. There are many different feeding positions! Our trained CLC/SLP can work with you and your baby to facilitate the ideal positions for the dyad.
Yes! Our CLC/SLP is trained to identify bottle feeding skills, transitioning, and nipple confusion.
If you have additional questions or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to providing you with the information and support you need to make informed decisions about feeding therapy.